Recognizing an educator who is making a significant impact on the next generation of plumbing professionals, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) named Cody Schroeder of Midwestern Mechanical Trades Academy its 2025 Plumbing Instructor of the Year. The award – sponsored by PHCC Corporate Partner Milwaukee Tool – was presented at PHCC CONNECT 2025 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Schroeder started with Midwestern Mechanical Inc. in 2005 as a plumbing apprentice. After completing his apprenticeship in 2009, he earned his South Dakota and Sioux Falls journeyman licenses and went on to serve in the field for 15 years as an apprentice, journeyman, and foreman. Building on that experience, he moved into education in 2021 and now oversees and teaches more than 100 apprentices annually across four Midwestern Mechanical locations.

Drawing on his own experience, Schroeder relates to his students and works tirelessly to ensure each one has the opportunity to succeed. He is an outspoken advocate for apprenticeships and partners closely with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation to promote and expand apprenticeship programs throughout the state.

As an instructor, Schroeder has modernized classroom and lab curriculums to better prepare students for today’s evolving industry. He has secured grants to update training facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and has introduced more digital training tools, including Trimble technology, to give apprentices firsthand experience with Building Information Modeling (BIM). His teaching style is designed to reach a wide variety of students – from recent high school graduates to later-in-life career changers – inspiring them to stay engaged and motivated.

He leads by example, wrote PHCC of South Dakota’s Brett Kaltvedt. “Cody motivates and inspires his students by being an example of what hard work and loyalty can bring to their careers.” Under Schroeder’s leadership, Midwestern Mechanical apprentices consistently have excelled at the PHCC Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing Apprentice Contests.

Equally important, Schroeder emphasizes professionalism in the industry. He instills in his students Midwestern Mechanical’s motto of “Performance with Pride” – pride in the work they do, pride in how they do the work, pride in how they treat the customer, and pride in how they carry themselves as a trades person.

“He explains to them that professionalism builds respect, trust, and credibility from both your peers and the customer, which ultimately leads to success for the company and the apprentices themselves,” Kaltvedt said.